Oh, That’s Just My Husband

I’ll never forget the evening I got on my knees to pray in agreement with people God had placed in my path. My heart was completely open to intercede for those I barely knew because I viewed them as a fellow sister or brother in Christ. In full “prayer-warrior” mode, I began to open my mouth to pray and was abruptly cut short by God. What I heard loud and clear were these words: “You so easily pray for others, but refuse to pray for your husband whom I gave you.” It was an astounding revelation. There was nothing wrong with praying for those people who were on my heart that day. The point God wanted me to see was that I no longer viewed my husband as His child also. I was so emotionally invested in what my husband did or did not do that I completely wrote him off in needing my prayers, my compassion and my forgiveness. My husband shouldn’t have been a footnote whenever I cried out, “Lord change him!” I was the one needing to change so I could love him the way God intended. I let go of the “oh, that’s just my husband” mentality and began covering him with my prayers for God to lead him and to show me how to better help him. Those prayers released me from the hardness and bitterness that had taken root in my heart for him and changed my marriage. “Real love” has no boundaries and I learned to not ever make the mistake of putting them up again.

“Wives in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that if any of them do not believe the Word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives…” 1 Peter 3:1 (NIV)

Heavenly Father,
I thank You for showing me what true love is. You demonstrate it every day in the way You care for me, despite my faults. Help me to receive the love You give me and share it with my husband. Help me to be selfless and to be the crown to my husband’s head as You guide me in loving and helping him. Thank You for the unity and peace You bring to our home. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.